Life-saving raft.



S. A. COM-BR. LIFE SAVING RAPT. APP'LIGATION HLED JULY 11, 1914.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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SAMUEL A. COMER, 0F SHERMAN, TEXAS.

LIFE-savnvclv BAFT.

l Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dect 29, 1914.

Application led July 11, 1914. Serial No. 850,415.

Rafts, of which the following is a specifi-A cation.

This invention pertains to life saving rafts of that class adapted for use at sea, and relates particularly to mechanism adapting 4it to be stored in desired quantities on board vessels, at life-saving stations, or at other desirable points wheresuchfdevices are liable to be needed.

In` the construction of life-rafts 'as heretofore it is customary to unite two or more hollow air-tight cylinders spaced some distance apart, by a.' frame work which maintains them in a plane side by side, depending on these cylinders only for the buoyancy of the raft.

It is an object of my invention to utilize this space between the cylinders also as air-tightv compartments, thus attaining the maximum buoyancy of a raft with a minimum weight and size of the structure.

vWith the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1. is alongitudinal plan view, Fig. 2 is a side view, Fig. 3 1s an end view,

Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the cylinders, and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line X X of Fig. 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 designates cylindrical metallic floats of suitable diameter and length according to the desired size of lthe raft. Three or more of theml are spaced apart and connected side by side by metal yokes 2 passing around and between them, said yokes .being clamped together by bolts 3 and 4. Top and bottom coverings 5 and (i of sheet metalv extend over all the cylinders and the whole length thereof, to which they are secured, and the ends being closed the spaces 7 between the cylinders are converted into floats of greater buoyancy than is attained by the cylinders. The coverss and 6 also extend over the sides of the outer cylinders where the space between them is closed by metal sheets `8 and the ends are closed by sheets 9, forming air chambers 10 which again adds to the buoyancy of the raft. Still other Ifloats 11, triangular in. cross sectionV are provided, they extend all around the raft and carry metal lugs 12 that are bolted to floor supports 13 retaining them in place. The ends of all the triangular floats are mitered as shown -at 14. The cylinders 1, the spaces 7 between them, and the fioatsll are respectively divided into compartments by the'partitions `15-16- and 17, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The floor supports 13 extend transversely across the top and bottom sides ofthe cylinders 1 and are secured thereto by the bolts 3. Floors 18 are attached to them in the usual manner, and to both the floors, near the outer sides and ends are secured posts 19 that carry railings 20 which l form complete rectangular inclosures.' To

`the posts are also attached life lines 21,

providedv with floats E22 as shown, so that whichever side of the raft may be in the water these lines will be in readiness to be seized by any person coming near the raft. To the posts 23, secured to the raft, a flagstaff 24 Hying a distress signal may be secured by the bolt 25, it is adapted to be folded down upon the Hoor of the raft when not in use and when needed, raised toa vertical position and secured by a pin through the apertures Q6. Also when desired, rowlocks and oars may be provided.

From the foregoing preferred embodiment of my invention it is apparent that I produce a simple and very efficient device,

` but in attaining these ends I do not wish to metal covering connecting the cylinders l n testimony whereof I ailix my signaforming;1 air chlfilbers betwen tlm, anc ture in presenceof two witnesses. tr1angu ar meta oats exten ing a aroun y the outer sides and ends of the cylinders v SAMUEL A COMER' 5 adjacent thereto and adapted to lbecon- Witnesses:

nected With the raft, substantially as set HARRY L. HANDY,V forth. v H. G.'GARDIER. o 

